Church union fights to keep labor contract

Church union fights to keep contract

HARLINGEN - Members of what is thought to be the first workers' union in a Roman Catholic church say church leaders are trying to break the labor contract and undermine the union.

About 50 lay workers at five churches in the Diocese of Brownsville had signed with the United Farm Workers in 2003. But the union says membership is down to about 30 because of the absorption of one church into another and a pastor's pressure on workers at another.

A church tribunal is considering whether a new pastor has to abide by the contract.

"During the two years since Aug. 18, 2003, the agreement signed before Judge Ramirez has been broken, and the employees in the diocese and at Holy Spirit have suffered terribly," Rebecca Flores, a spokeswoman for the workers, wrote in a news release.

The workers were under a confidentiality agreement pending the tribunal's decision.

There are now only three unionized churches, with membership down from about 50 to about 30. Flores, speaking for the workers, said the Rev. Louis Brum, the newest pastor at Holy Spirit Parish in McAllen, hasn't met with them to begin healing and offered raises to maintenance workers who quit the union.